Former British soldiers win court battle over questioning about Bloody Sunday killings

LONDON – A British court says former paratroopers wanted for questioning about the killing of civilians during a protest in Londonderry in 1972 shouldn't be detained and sent to Northern Ireland.

The seven former soldiers argued that their lives would be at risk if they were sent to Northern Ireland for questioning about the Bloody Sunday massacre.

On Thursday, three High Court judges granted an order prohibiting the Police Service of Northern Ireland from arresting the men on condition they agreed to be interviewed "at a police station in England and Wales, or other acceptable location."

Members of the Parachute Regiment fatally shot 13 Catholic protesters in Londonderry on Jan. 30, 1972. In 2010, a 12-year inquiry concluded that the soldiers had opened fire without warning on unarmed protesters.